Page 64 - West Bengal

PM Modi launches projects worth Rs 7,200 cr in West Bengal's Arambagh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 7,200 crore in Arambagh area of Hooghly district in West Bengal. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple developmental projects related to sectors like rail, ports, oil pipelines, LPG supply and wastewater treatment. India of the 21st century is progressing at a fast pace and together we all have set the goal of making a developed India by 2047, he said at the programme. Modi said the Centre has taken steps for the welfare of the poor and that is why in the last 10 years, about 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty. Our effort is that the modernization of railways in West Bengal should happen at the same pace as it is happening in other parts of the country, he said.

The who, why and how of Sandeshkhali's TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh

The meteoric rise of Shajahan Sheikh from a modest background of a helper in a local transport company to becoming the so-called tiger' of Sandeshkhali is what Bollywood film scripts are made of. And so does his fall. Sheikh, a key accused in sexual assault and land grab in Sandeshkhali, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday after being on the run for 55 days that witnessed large-scale protests by women. He was remanded to 10 days of police custody by a local court. Following his arrest, the TMC also removed Sheikh from all party positions. The rise of Sheikh started towards the fag end of the erstwhile Left Front rule in Bengal. After spending a few years as a helper in passenger vehicle services from Sandeshkhali to Sarberia, he got into the fish business. "One of his maternal uncles was into pisciculture and Shajahan started helping him. After a few years and rapid development in business, they became No. 1 in the trade in Sandeshkhali area," a retired police officer, who

PM to visit Jharkhand, West Bengal today; to unveil several projects

The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd (HURL) Sindri Fertiliser Plant

PM Modi to begin tour to Jharkhand, Bengal, Bihar today. Full schedule

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a two-day visit to Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Bihar today to launch several development projects

LPG cylinder may cost Rs 2,000 if BJP returns to power: WB CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, the government would hike the price of cooking gas cylinder to Rs 2,000. The chief minister was addressing a gathering at a government programme here in Jhargram district. "If the BJP wins the elections, they may hike the price of a cooking gas cylinder to Rs 1,500 or Rs 2,000. Then again, we will have to go back to the old practice of collecting wood to light a fire," Banerjee said. She also gave an ultimatum to the BJP-led central government to complete building houses under the Awas Yojana by April-end, claiming that otherwise her government would start constructing them from May. On Tuesday, Banerjee had set a deadline of April 1 for the central government to complete building houses for the beneficiaries or else her government would build around 11 lakh houses for them. Referring to her government paying MGNREGA workers their due wages which were ...

Shahjahan arrested after 55 days; PM Modi to visit Bengal on Friday

The political slugfest could impact the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state. With 42 seats at stake, the BJP is keen to hold on, even add, to its 2019 tally of 18 seats

West Bengal highlights: Arrested TMC leader Shahjahan suspended from party

LIVE news updates: Catch the latest updates on TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh's arrest in Sandeshkhali

Nine industrial parks developed post-2011: West Bengal industry minister

The minister said this while highlighting the focus given to industrial infrastructure development by way of existing and new industrial parks

Centre raises concern about 5 states not signing PM SHRI School MoU

The Centre has expressed strong concerns about five states not signing MoUs with the education ministryfor PM SHRI schools and Punjab not implementing it despite continuing to take funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, sources said on Thursday. Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Delhi have not yet signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Education, while 30 states and union territories (UTs) have done so. The scheme targets to upgrade 14,500 schools and is expected to benefit 1.8 million students. It also aims to ensure these schools serve as model institutes and encapsulate the spirit of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The government has already selected 6,448 schools from 28 states and UTs for the upgrade in the first round. "Despite taking funds from Centre for Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the refusal of five States/UTs, namely Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Delhi to sign MOUs for PM SHRI schools reflects a troubling patter

West Bengal GSDP to grow 10.5% in 2024-25, says minister Shashi Panja

West Bengal's gross state domestic product (GSDP) is likely to grow 10.5 for the financial year 2024-25 over the preceding fiscal, state industry and commerce minister Shashi Panja said on Thursday. The Economic Review for 2023-24 indicated that the state GSDP to grow by 7.65 per cent, outpacing the National average of 7.32 per cent. Speaking at a CII event here, the minister said West Bengal currently holds the position of the fourth-largest economy in the country. "The GSDP of the state for 2024-25 is estimated to grow at 10.5 per cent over the preceding fiscal", she said. Panja said the manufacturing sector of the state grew at 7.8 per cent in 2022-23, surpassing the national average of five per cent. She said that there had been no incidence of strikes since 2010-11, the state has uninterrupted power supply and also serves as a gateway to South East Asia with a substantial consumer base. Additional chief secretary and CMD of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBI

Sandeshkhali unrest: Shajhahan arrested, sent to 10-day custody by court

Absconding TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh, the main accused of sexual abuse and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday after being on the run for 55 days that witnessed violent protests led by local women and a fierce political slugfest. Additional Director-General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar said Sheikh was arrested from a house in Bamanpukur in Minakhan police station area, around 30 km away from the island of Sandeshkhali on the outskirts of Sunderbans, in North 24 Parganas district. Sheikh was hiding in the house along with a few associates, police said. After the arrest, he was taken to the Basirhat court, which sent him to 10 days in police custody. Sheikh, who has been at the centre of a massive political firestorm, came out of the lock-up around 10.40 am dressed in white kurta-pajama, and walked to the courtroom with policemen behind him. He also made a gesture with his hand at the media contingent waiting there. After the ..

HC refuses urgent hearing on plea challenging Suvendu's Sandeshkhali visit

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday refused an urgent hearing to the West Bengal government's challenge of a single bench order vide which Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari was allowed to visit the restive Sandeshkhali. The single bench on Wednesday allowed BJP MLA Adhikari to visit Haldarpara in Jeliakhali village panchayat area of Sandeshkhali on Thursday. The state prayed for permission of the court to file an appeal challenging the single bench order and an urgent hearing of it. The division bench presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam refused to grant an urgent hearing of the prayer saying that the court has better business to do. The court said that the state can file the appeal.

Who is Shajahan Sheikh, arrested TMC leader at centre of Sandeshkhali storm

TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested this morning by the West Bengal police from a house in North 24 Parganas's Minakhah on Thursday morning

Criminals calling shots in parts of Bengal, this has to end: Guv Bose

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday welcomed the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali case and asserted that the time has come to put criminals, who are ruling the roost in parts of Bengal, behind bars. Absconding TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh was arrested on the early hours of Thursday from a house in Minakhan, around 30 km away from the island of Sandeshkhali. "This is the beginning of an end. We have to put an end to the cycle of violence in Bengal. In parts of Bengal, the goons are ruling the roost. This must end and the gangsters should be put behind bars", the governor said at a press conference here. Bose maintained that the Sandeshkhali incident is only the tip of an iceberg, suggesting there is much more to it than what meets the eye.

Bengal police arrested Shajahan after court cleared the decks, says TMC

The ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday hailed the arrest of absconding party leader Shajahan Sheikh, accused of torturing villagers in trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area, and said it was possible only after the court cleared the decks and accused the opposition of exploiting the earlier "embargo" on his arrest. The BJP dubbed the arrest as scripted and claimed he was in the safe custody of West Bengal Police. Sheikh, accused of alleged sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, was arrested on Thursday morning, police said. He was arrested from a house at Minakhah in North 24 Parganas district where he was hiding, they said. "Due to a legal tangle, he couldn't be arrested initially. However, after the court clarified that there was no stay on his arrest, the West Bengal Police did its job. The opposition had earlier exploited the embargo on his arrest," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed that Sheikh

Sandeshkhali incident: TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh arrested from Bengal

He was arrested from a house in Minakhah in North 24 Parganas district where he was hiding, they said

More than 1.6 mn cases of duplication of voters in Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari

Adhikari said that protesters in Sandeshkhali have claimed that they have not voted since the time Mamata Banerjee came to power

CBI, ED can also arrest Shajahan Sheikh apart from state police: Cal HC

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed that Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, the main accused in sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing at Sandeshkhali, can be arrested by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police. On a prayer by the state's advocate general, the court clarified its order of February 26 in which it had ordered the arrest of Sheikh by the police authority. A division bench presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam clarified that the court in its February 7 order had only stayed the constitution of a joint special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and West Bengal Police by a single bench to probe an attack on ED officials. The division bench directed that it will be "well open to the CBI or the ED also to arrest" the absconding Sheikh, noting that he has been on the run for a substantial period. ED officials were attacked by a nearly 1,000-member strong mob at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on

Khalistani jibe at Sikh IPS officers shows 'communal face' of BJP: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the Khalistani jibe at a Sikh IPS officer in the state showed the "real communal face" of the BJP. "When they see a Sikh IPS officer wearing pagdi (turban), they call him Khalistani. This is their real communal face," she said, while addressing an official programme here. A Sikh IPS officer, who was deputed to prevent senior state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari from visiting restive Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, last week slammed saffron party activists for allegedly dubbing him a 'Khalistani'. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, accompanying Adhikari, claimed that the police officer wasn't fulfilling his duties, but dismissed the allegation that BJP supporters called him a 'Khalistani'. Banerjee alleged that several BJP-ruled states are copying the welfare schemes of her government. "The BJP says we have not done any development for West Bengal. But the fact is that several states ruled by the saffron party are copy

Suvendu claims Shajahan Sheikh in 'safe custody' of police, TMC denies

West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday claimed that absconding TMC strongman Shajahan Sheikh of Sandeshkhali is in "safe custody" of the state police since last night. The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, dismissed Adhikari's claim as "baseless" and an "attempt at disturbing the law and order situation", while asserting that the police are doing everything to nab Shajahan. Taking to X, Adhikari, the Nandigram MLA, claimed Shajahan was in police custody since 12 am after being "taken away from Bermajur gram panchayat after he managed a deal with the police through influential mediators that he would be taken care of properly while in police and judicial custody". "He will be extended five star facilities during his time behind the bars and will have access to a mobile phone, through which he will be able to lead the TMC virtually. Even a bed in Woodburn Ward (state-run SSKM Hospital) will be kept ready and vacant for him if he chooses to spend some time there," he ..